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SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments - "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" by The Gospel Starlets

The Gospel Starlet’s version of the old folk spiritual “Children Go Where I Send Thee” owes much to legendary producer Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” approach.

The Gospel Starlets were active in New York City in the mid-‘60s and recorded a single LP and a handful of 45s for the HOB label. The group was clearly influenced by Darlene Love, the Ronettes and the Crystals and other groups produced by Phil Spector. It’s a shame we don’t know more about them – the Starlets had five excellent featured vocalists, each of whom sings lead on a different song from their lone album, Workers for the Lord.

Somewhere along the way they also recorded the old folk song, “Children Go Where I Send Thee.” It’s often called a spiritual -- but the song’s lyrics can be found in ancient English folk songs as well – and may be older still!

MUSIC: “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” Gospel Starlets from the LP The Gospel Soul of Christmas, Side I, Track I (December 10, 2023)

Gospel Starlets - Children Go Where I Send Thee.mp3

I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU and the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries.

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Robert F. Darden is the author of two dozen books, most recently: Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume II: Black Sacred Music from Sit-In to Resurrection City (Penn State University Press, 2016); Nothing But Love in God’s Water, Volume I: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement(Penn State University Press, 2014); Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor(Abingdon Press, 2008), Reluctant Prophets and Clueless Disciples: Understanding the Bible by Telling Its Stories(Abingdon Press, 2006); and People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music(Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2004).